Fish for weapons? Yet another EU surrender we don't need to make
Imagine if Brussels suddenly announced that the vast vineyards of France were a 'common resource' and that everyone in the EU could come along and pick their grapes.
This is more or less what happened to Britain's fishing grounds when we first joined the Common Market.
In one of the great ambushes of history, British negotiators suddenly found that membership would involve an invasion of our waters by foreign fishermen, which meant years of disaster for a once-thriving industry.
The sheer underhand legal chicanery involved in this episode is one of the many reasons why those affected came ever afterwards to mistrust the Brussels monster, and also one of the reasons why Norway has continued to stay out of the EU.
The EU's takeover of our fishing grounds devastated the UK fishing fleet.
One of the great opportunities given to this country by Brexit was the chance to reverse the Common Fisheries Policy and to re-establish a flourishing British fishing sector.
Since we left, we have made real progress, including increased quotas for our fishermen and less access for foreign vessels.
But with so much at stake, it was never going to be that simple. Several EU countries were determined to lose as little as possible, and to exact as high a price as possible for any gains we might make.
So it is no great surprise to discover the shape of their latest effort.
Sir Keir Starmer is close to agreeing a 'reset' with the European Union which will allow British defence companies to bid for a share of a new €150billion European defence fund.
But in return, it appears we are expected to make significant concessions on fishing rights and on another vexed issue – so-called freedom of movement, otherwise known as control of our own borders.
No doubt Brussels enthusiasts will attempt to claim that the two are not connected, but the EU octopus knows very well what all its tentacles are doing.
Obviously, the extra defence cash would be welcome to major contractors such as BAE Systems and Babcock.
The Security Action For Europe fund is aimed at helping countries invest in missile defence, drones, ammunition and cyber security.
British companies were originally excluded from it, supposedly because the UK has not signed a defence and security pact with Brussels.
But these British firms can surely survive without EU cash if they have to, especially if Britain itself expands its defence budget, as it must.
And national strategic assets, such as our own home waters, should surely not be for sale – now that we have at last got them back.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is raising the alarm over this deal, due to be unveiled on May 19, and she is wise to do so.
Mrs Badenoch, who has recently been giving Sir Keir a run for his money, says 'instead of capitulating to the EU, Labour should be pressing home our Brexit benefits'.
She is doubly right to speak in this fashion. Firstly, she is correct in principle. This country needs to make full use of all the freedoms it regained through Brexit.
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